High five for Lockie at Brands Hatch

Calum Lockie contested no less than five races during the Britcar meeting at Brands Hatch (25/26 June), completing five hours of racing and around 185 laps of the Grand Prix circuit as he raced both a Ferrari 360 and a BMW 320i.Sharing as usual with Bo McCormick, Lockie tackled both Britcar races and the Belcar event in the Ferrari, but then doubled up by sharing the BMW of Michael Wilson in the pair of Production S1 races."It was a fantastic weekend," said Lockie, who had tested both cars on Friday and spent the Thursday before the meeting running a Gold Track Driving Club track day on the GP circuit. "It's one of the busiest weekends I've ever had," he admitted. "I was very pleased to get three podiums from five races. The schedule worked out fine."In qualifying for the Britcar race, Lockie posted third fastest time. "The car was working absolutely beautifully on the Grand Prix circuit," he reported. Then, in Belcar qualifying, McCormick went out first in the only session they were allowed to contest under Britcar regulations. "Bo was going really well," said Calum as they prepared to race in the guest class. However, Lockie's time was quicker than the GTB class cars regularly racing in Belcar and was 11th fastest in a grid of 44 cars.Meanwhile, in the BMW for the first time he qualified fifth in class. "I was just getting used to the car and we worked through some changes, which seemed to work."The opening Britcar race came first and McCormick started the race in the Ferrari. "He was pushing on very well and stayed with the leading bunch in his first race on the GP circuit." After a driver change at the halfway mark, Lockie pushed hard all the way to the flag, enjoying a big battle with the Porsche of Barry Horne in the process along the way as they finished third overall.Next was the first Production S1 race, with Wilson starting the BMW and running well until a slow pit stop cost them some time. Pushing to the limit to try and make up time and chasing fourth in class, Calum made an uncharacteristic error late in the race and nudged into the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend after a big slide. However, they were still classified fifth in class.Sunday morning started with the Belcar warm-up and then the Belcar race over 125 minutes. This time, Lockie started the Ferrari and charged up to eighth place on the opening lap before the more powerful cars got into their stride. Despite a problem with the splitter that cost them a little time, Lockie pitted at half-distance to hand over to McCormick as planned with the car running second in the guest class. "Bo went out and was pushing on really well until a lot of oil went down. He was rightly being very cautious in the conditions and he coped with it very, very well." At the flag, they were second in class and 14th overall.Unfortunately, the second Britcar race followed immediately and the team had no time to re-prepare the car, so they lost the first seven laps of the Britcar race while the Ferrari was readied for another two-hour race. Despite the delay, they claimed fourth in class.Without a break, it was then on to the second Production S1 race, with Wilson again starting. "Michael got right through to sixth in class, and we gradually worked forward." Although late in his stint Calum had to race without fifth gear, he nursed the car to the flag for third in class and another podium result.The Hargreaves Motorsport team again did a brilliant job with the Ferrari, which didn't miss a beat all weekend. Big thanks are due to Paul Hargreaves and the crew of Geoff, Richard and Brendan. Thanks are due Bo McCormick for making it all possible and to the sponsors, 1st Class Transport of Milton Keynes, Brian James Trailers, Grand Prix Racewear and Dunlop."I must also thank Michael Wilson and Terry and the crew at Butler Motorsport for the chance to race the BMW," said Calum after a tremendously challenging weekend of racing.


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